Guide to Hospital Beds for Home Care Needs

Guide to Hospital Beds for Home Care Needs

Posted by NewLeaf Staff on May 17, 2022

Guide to Hospital Beds for Home Care Needs

Shopping for an adjustable hospital bed for home care doesn't have to be a confusing proposition. NewLeaf's Guide to Hospital Beds for Home Care Needs helps divide the search process into manageable chunks. In their basic form, hospital beds are simply adjustable beds that offer a variety of solutions to assist with a wide range of needs. Let's get started with the first step in simplifying the discovery process when it comes to identifying the right hospital beds to meet your, or a loved one's unique needs. *Bed shown is a medical-like bed without the "hospital-look" by Click to learn more about Flex-A-Bed Adjustable Beds.

How many sizes of Hospital Bed are there?

Hospital beds typically come in an industry-wide standard size of 36” wide by 76" to 80” long. However, home care hospital beds are also available in widths of 39", 42", 48", 54" and 60". Why so many? A twin 36" width bed may be all that some users need, or all that the room space allows. While other users may simply prefer the larger space that a 42" to 60" wide bed offers, or need the additional space due to their larger body size. Whether preference or need, you will find all beds size 36" to 60" wide in our Full Electric Home Care Hospital Beds section or our Bariatric Beds section that caters exclusively to the size needs of users weighing 500 lbs. or more. designer Adjustable Beds departments at NewLeaf (both are further discussed below). And when it comes to taller patients, several of NewLeaf's models offer sleep surface lengths in 84" and 86" lengths. 

Types of Hospital Beds for Home Care

Hospital beds come in four main category types when it comes to adjustability: Full-Electric Hospital Beds, Low Hospital Beds, Semi-Electric Hospital Beds, and Manual (Manual beds are not sold at NewLeaf). Full-Electric Hospital Beds offer fully powered Head, Foot and Overall Height adjustability. They are easy for the user to customize to full adjust their comfort level with a convenient hand-held controller. Low Hospital Beds are full-electric when it comes to overall custom adjustability, but additionally offer a lower overall height from the ground (as low as 9.5") compared to standard Semi- and Full-Electric beds. Low Beds are ideal for users who suffer from Alzheimer's, Dementia, or other conditions that may make them a fall risk. Semi-Electric Hospital Beds offer powered Head and Foot section adjustment, but manual Overall Height adjustment operation by a provided hand crank. Specialty Long Term Care Beds offer additional unique features and benefits to treat chronic impairments that may reduce the degree of independence. Fully electric and adjustable, Long Term Care Beds are extra durable, offer lower height ranges, as well as specialized treatment positions like Trendelenburg, Reverse Trendelenburg, and Cardiac Chair, which may be required to meet the user's unique special care needs. The below table shows the adjustable functionality for each bed type, with links to view amazing products in each.

Bed Types Comparison

best viewed in landscape mode on mobile 

  Head Section Adjusts Foot Section Adjusts Overall Height Adjusts
Manual Beds Hand Crank Hand Crank Hand Crank
Semi-Electric Beds Motorized Motorized Hand Crank
Full-Electric Beds Motorized Motorized Motorized
Low Beds Motorized Motorized Motorized
Specialty Long Term Care Beds Motorized Motorized Motorized

Designer Adjustable Beds for Home Care, "Non-Hospital Looking"

If you are looking for a less "hospital-looking" option to fit your home decor, NewLeaf also offers "designer" Adjustable Beds (like the Flex-A-Bed full-size model pictured on this page) that come ready to attach your own standard-size decorative headboard or footboard to match your decor, or even fit inside your existing bed frame set. Unlike "hospital beds," which typically offer a 36” wide sleep surface, adjustable beds come in normal bed widths for Twin, Full, Queen, Dual Queen and even Dual King sizes.

Designed to help relieve the effects of Arthritis, Acid Reflux, Asthma, Breathing Disorders, Hiatal Hernias, Swollen Legs and Feet, Phlebitis, Varicose Veins, Back Pain, Neck Pain and more, these adjustable beds can additionally serve users who are mobility impaired or at fall risk by adding optional Bed Side Rails. In addition to featuring electronic adjustments of the Head and Foot section—and Overall Height Adjustment with the Hi-Lo models—you can include optional Dual-Timed Massage with Under-Bed Safety Lighting, and Wireless Remote.

Bariatric Beds for Home Care

Bariatric Beds are heavy duty beds designed specifically to serve the needs of larger and heavier patients. Bariatric beds with weight capacities of 450 to 1,000 lbs. offer an extra wide sleep surface to allow more space for the user—generally available in widths of 42”, 48”, 54” and even 60". These beds are extremely durable, yet comfortable with full-electric adjustability of the Head and Foot Sections, as well as the Overall Height. NewLeaf offers several Bariatric Bed models and Mattress packages that include High Density Foam and Alternating Air Pressure options. Some bed models offer optional built-in Digital Weight Scale to help monitor the weight of users more easily.

Shop all Adjustable Hospital Beds for Home Care product groups at this link. Or as with any product NewLeaf Home Medical offers, please call us at 888.739.4330 to speak with a compassionate and devoted customer care advisor for personal guidance based on your unique needs.